Battle of the SCV High School BandsWho: SCV High School Bands What: Four local high school bands will battle for grand prize of $300. Voter’s choice. Lynn Parker, Music Chair for the “Music For The Cause” Festival, will pick two of the bands to perform at the Santa Clarita Valley Relay for Life.When: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Where: Saugus Speedway, 22500 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350 Contact: (661) 259-3886

Hart District Honor Band Concert Who: Hart District Honor BandWhat: Hart District Honor Band concert featuring top junior high and high school musicians selected by auditionWhen: 7:30 p.m.Where: Hart High School Auditorium, 24825 Newhall Avenue, NewhallContact: (661) 259-0033

2day in historyToday is Saturday, March 6, the 65th day of 2010. There are 300 days left in the year.

2day’s Highlight in History: On March 6, 1836, the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, fell to Mexican forces after a 13-day siege.Ten years ago: Three New York City officers were convicted of a cover-up in a police station attack on Haitian immigrant Abner Louima. (The convictions of Thomas Wiese, Thomas Bruder and Charles Schwarz were later overturned, but Schwarz, whose conviction for participating in the attack was also overturned, was found guilty of perjury in 2002.)

Five years ago:Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena (zhoo-lee-AH’-nah ZGRAY’-nah) claimed American soldiers gave no warning before they opened fire on the car carrying her to the Baghdad airport, killing the Italian agent who’d just won her freedom after a month in captivity.

AP Odd NewsNo oath — no convictionANN ARBOR, Mich. – A Michigan man sent to prison for 15 years is getting a new trial after the judge failed to do a routine procedure — ask the jury to take an oath.

Timothy Becktel was sentenced in 2008 for assault with intent to murder. But his appellate lawyer successfully argued that the verdict should be thrown out because the jury didn’t swear to return an honest decision based on law and evidence. The Michigan Court of Appeals said Friday it must erase the verdict to preserve the fairness and integrity of the judicial system.

Assistant prosecutor David King says his office might appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court. He says Becktel’s trial attorney never objected to the lack of a jury oath.

Mortuary hopes to ‘bring life’PITTSFIELD, Mass. – A Western Massachusetts funeral home is trying “bring life” to business with a chili cook-off, a murder-mystery show and free limo rides to couples on their 50th anniversaries. Terry Probst, the new managing partner of the Devanny-Condron Funeral Home in Pittsfield, hopes the events will remind people that the funeral home is a center for community life.

He said if customers know that the funeral home also can be the setting for other, happier activities, they might take some comfort in the place later when dark times come.

Among other other events sponsored by the funeral home are an art walk, and monthly birthday cakes to the Pittsfield Senior Center.’

A Colorado jury on Friday convicted 52-year-old Vernon Brandt of Loveland of felony third-degree assault for a 2008 fight with 85-year-old Richard Albers.

On the day of the assault, Albers walked up to Brandt’s truck because Brandt was blocking the spot Albers has been using almost every morning for 16 years.

Albers tapped on Brandt’s door, and Brandt then swung open his truck door, knocking Albers to the ground. Brandt then allegedly got out of his car, grabbed Albers and threatened to fight him. Prosecutors said the men had argued over the spot before.